What is the optimal dose of escitalopram for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder? A naturalistic open-label study.

This study explored the efficacy and tolerability of very high doses (maximum dose of >40 mg/day), high doses (maximum dose of 25-40 mg/day), and standard doses (maximum dose of ≤20 mg/day) of escitalopram (ESC) as an anti-obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment in a naturalistic clinical setting. We reviewed the medical records of all patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (n=246) who had taken ESC between May 2006 and September 2009, and assigned Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scores, retrospectively. Of the total sample, 24.

Longitudinal patterns of social functioning and conversion to psychosis in subjects at ultra-high risk.

Objective: Impaired social functioning is one of the defining features of patients with schizophrenia and subjects at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis. This prospective study aimed to investigate the course of social dysfunction in UHR subjects and to examine its relationship with later conversion to psychosis. The effect of pharmacotherapy on the course of social dysfunction was also examined.

The effects of mind-body training on stress reduction, positive affect, and plasma catecholamines.

This study was designed to assess the association between stress, positive affect and catecholamine levels in meditation and control groups. The meditation group consisted of 67 subjects who regularly engaged in mind-body training of "Brain-Wave Vibration" and the control group consisted of 57 healthy subjects. Plasma catecholamine (norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and dopamine (DA)) levels were measured, and a modified form of the Stress Response Inventory (SRI-MF) and the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS) were administered.

Prospective outcome of early intervention for individuals at ultra-high-risk for psychosis.

Aim: Based on previous reports of second-generation antipsychotic agents having a beneficial effect on prodromal symptoms, we investigated the effectiveness and tolerability of atypical antipsychotic therapies in individuals at high risk for developing psychosis.

Methods: We examined prodromal symptoms and functioning in individuals at ultra-high-risk for psychosis using an uncontrolled prospective design with pre- and post-treatment measures.

Results: Of the 27 subjects taking antipsychotics during the study period, 15 took part in at least one follow-up assessment.